Method of and apparatus for applying closure caps to receptacles



Feb. 22, 1938. E. VON SEGEBADEN ET AL 2,108,932

' METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING CLOSURE CAPS TO RECEPTACLES FiledOCT.. 3l. 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 22, 1938. E. voN SEGEBADEN ET A1.2,108,932

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING CLOSURE CAPS TO RECEPTACLES FiledOct. 5l, 1934 cuoco cano c Patented Feb. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE METHOD lOF AND APPARATUS FOR. APPLY- ING CLOSURE CAPS TOyRECEPTACLES Application Gctober 31, 1934, Serial No. 750,890 In SwedenNovember 4, 1933 14 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for applyingclosure caps to jars, bottles or similar receptacles.

lOne object of our invention is to provide a :simple method of andapparatus forv applying closure caps to jars, bottles or similarreceptacles, forcing the material of the cap into intimate contact withthe neck of the receptacle, conforming said material in accurateaccordance with "exterior beads, threads or irregularities of the neckof the receptacle.

Another object of our invention is to provide a method of and vapparatusfor applying closure caps to jars, bottles or similar receptacles,exertv'ing a` sufficient downward pull upon the skirt of the cap tomaintain an hermeticl seal without exerting undue pressure, tending toinjuriously affect the top of the cap and a gasket or the like appliedbetween'the mouth of the receptacle and the top of the cap.

Still another object of our invention'is to` provide -amethod 'of andapparatus for applying closure caps to jars, bottlesor similarreceptacles, to accommodate at all times the capping ele- 1 mentsemployed to theexternal surface of the part ofthe receptacle tofforcethe material of the receptacle into intimate contact with said contour.vregardless of the shape of Vsaid contour which may have irregularities,deformations-or threads, at all times maintaining Va uniform downwarddragging action upon the material .of

the cap skirt that is to be brought into con-- formity with the contourof the underlying part of the receptacle, avoiding undue deformations-3-'6- ofthe parts of the skirt to -be applied.

vStill another object of our invention is to pro vide .a methodof andapparatus for spinning closure caps to the threaded necks of jars,bottles orsimilar receptacles, to continuously pull the fmaterial of theclosure cap downwardly from the top Aof the receptacle, exerting auniform dragT ging action independentlyof the spinning action.

Still, another object of our invention is to provide ya method of andapparatus for .applying yclosure caps topreferably threaded necks ofjars, bottles or similar receptacles, progressively forcing one part ofthe cap into intimate conformity with .the threads or the like onsimultaneously bending and securing a lower sealing portion of the capbelow a rim or the like of the neck of the receptacle, utilizingpractically allthe period of cap applying for firmly securing saidsealing panying drawings, in which similar reference characters are usedto designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:-

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus, with `the parts inthe relativepositions which they assume prior to the bringing of thereceptacle into position to initiate the cap applying operation; Fig. 2is a similar view, showing the relative positions which the parts assumeafter the receptacle has been elevated into operative position, the capapplying operation having been completed; Fig. 3 is a Vertical sectionalview of another embodiment of the apparatus; Fig. 4 is a verticalsectional View of part of `the apparatus,l forming still anotherembodiment of the invention; Fig. 5 is a vertical vsectional View of thelower part of still another embodiment of the apparatus as well as theneck of -a receptacle, the operative yparts of the apparatus 'havingfinished the lcap applying; Fig. 6 is a section on the line VI-VI ofFig. v3; Fig.'7 is a section-on the line VII-VII of Fig.'3. Figs. 8 to"11 show modified embodiments of thel invention.

Referring to the drawings, I designates a casing enclosing a spinninghead. To the upper hub portion 55 of thev casing is secured a cap 2 andin its lower endis Vsecureda bell having a central opening 56. A sleeve`5l forms an extension of a gear wheel -4 and is rotatably journalle'dwithin the hub 55 and meshes with another gear wheel'5 part of whichvisl-sh'ownf-in the drawings. A nut 62V is threaded -to the top end ofthe sleeve 51 and a Awear ring 63 is interposed betweenthe nut '62 andthe top end of the hub 55 thus suspending the gear wheel 4. The wheel 5is mounted on a continuously driving shaft, not shown. A lsleeve E isfitted within thesleeve 5l and'mounte'd for longitudinal movementtherein. Relative rotary movement between the gearwheel 45 and thesleeve 6 is prevented by la key 8 :litting neatly within a recess in thesleeve 6 and extending `freely within an elongatedl slot 'l formed uponthe inner surface -of the sleeve :51 and gear wheel 4. Secured to thelowery extremity of the sleeve 't is a plate I9, integrally-"formedwith` four depending spaced fingers HiY for guiding the bottle neck whenthe latter is elevated'into operative position. A longitudinallymovable, 'non-rotate able shaft Il isfitted within the sleeve '6; Oneend of a coiled contractile spring |2 is interposed between the cap 2'and a ring 9 ysecured to the shaft H so that the spring will force theshaft downwards and `hold a ringl secured to the shaft ll in abuttingrelation to a hub on the cap 2 to suspend the' .cappingamecha-nism.

The lower extremity of the` shaft II has a radial flange I3 tting withina recess |4 forming an extension of the central bore of the sleeve 6.Moreover, the lower extremity of the shaft I I has a central bore I5 inwhich is longitudinally movable a pin I6 forming an upper extension of aplunger I1 which serves as an abutment for the bottle to be capped. Acoiled contractile spring I8 seats upon an abutment of the bore I5 aswell as upon a radial liange 58 of the plunger I1 and serves to holdwith yielding pressure the flange 58 against the plate I9. Four radialbrackets 59 are formed integrally with the sleeve 6.V To the bracketsthere are pivoted two levers 22 and two levers 6|. The upper extremityof each lever carries an anti-friction roller 21 and a weight 26. Therollers 21 are mounted to roll upon the substantially conical innersurface 64 of an annular trackway 28 secured to the casing I. Each lever22 is arranged opposite to a lever arm 6|.

On the extremity of the depending arms of each lever 6I is rotatablyjournalled a spinning disc 20. To the depending arms of the levers 22are pivoted links 23 having a rear extension 82 and being connected toone end of a tension spring 24, the other end of which is secured to acorresponding finger I0. The springs 24 urge the links 23 to swingdownwards to force the extensions 82 to engage abutments 25 on thelevers 22. Each link 23 carries a spinning disc 2| which isrotatablyjournalled thereon and the spinning face of which is shapedlike the groove of the receptacle thread. When rotating the sleeve 6with the arms 22 and 6|, centrifugal force will lling the weights 26outwardly and the several parts will occupy the position shown in Fig. 2so Y that the discs 2D and 2|, respectively, are movable to dilferentlevels and transversally to the receptacle 29, the discs 2| occupying ahigher position than the` discs 26. The discs 20 are positioned somewhatnearer the longitudinal axis of the spinning mechanism than the discs 2I.

In operation, a cap 39 is placed on the threaded neck of the bottle 29which is then elevated from its initialposition shown in Fig. 1 toabutting engagement with the plunger I1. The continuously .rotating gearwheel 5 revolves the gear wheel 4 which'drives the sleeve 6 to rotatewith the arms 22 and 6| with the spinning discs and the weights.Thereby, the anti-friction rollers 21 are pressed against the lower partof the surface 64 of the trackway 28 by the weights 26 and all thespinning discs are still held out of engagement with the cap on thebottle neck. Continued upward movement of the bottle will rst raise theplunger I1 against the tension of spring I8 to bring the flange 58 intoengagement with the flange I3, and on still further continued upwardmovement of the receptacle the rotating sleeve 6 with the arms 22 and 6|is caused to move upwards against pressing action of the spring I2 andthe rollers 21 are continuously caused to roll upon an upper widerportion of the trackway 28, and then the spinning discs are moved intoengagement with the skirt of the cap covering the threaded bottle neck.Due to the fact that the discs 2|! occupy an initial position lessremote from the longitudinal axis of the spinning mechanism than thediscs 2| the discs 2|) will iirst hit the cap and they will bend thelower edge of the skirt of the cap below an annular rim on the bottleneck and the friction between the discs and the skirt will cause thediscs to revolve during their planetary motion around the bottle neck oncontinuoushT exerting yielding pressure upon the skirt. Immediatelyafter the discs 20 having thus been brought into operation the discs 2|hit the skirt of the cap slightly above the inwardly bent portionthereof and force the material of the skirt into intimate contact withthe thread beginning there and extending upwards towards the end of thebottle neck. Then the spinning discs are urged upwards by the groove ofthe thread on tensioning the springs 24. On the progressive upwardmovement of the discs 2| the discs 20 will constantly exert spinningaction upon the lower edge of the skirt holding it with yieldingpressure against the bottle neck, and permit just as much longitudinaldisplacement of the material of the skirt as will be necessary to allowaccurate conforming of said material to the threaded portion of thebottle neck. The deformation of the skirt of the receptacle will,therefore, cause practically no changes of the initial pressure betweenthe top of the cap and the mouth of the receptacle or upon a gasketinterposed therebetween, and nevertheless the material of the cap skirtwill be brought into intimate contact withv practically anyirregularities or deformations of the threaded portion of the bottleneck. After completing the spinning action now described the differentspinning discs occupy the relative positions shown in Fig. 2. Ondescending the capped bottle the compressed spring l2 urges therevolving spinning mechanism downwards, the anti-fric-` tion rollers 21will ride upon a narrower portion of the trackway and the levers 22 and6| will swing the discs 2| and 20, respectively, out

of engagement with the cap, the discs 2| in ad-v brackets 35 formedintegrally with the sleeve 6.'

On the upper extremity of each rock shaft-there is rotatably mounted asleeve 4| having two arms 36 and 31, respectively. The arms 36 eachcarriesv an anti-friction roller 38 and the arms 31 are connected withthey sleeve 6 by the intermediary of a tension spring 39. The tensionspring 39 forces the roller 38 against the outer conical surface of anannular trackway 40 which is secured to the gear-wheel 4. The lower endof the sleeve 4| has a recess 42 into which projects a lug 43 from aflange 44 secured to the shaft 34. The recess has such a width that thesleeve 4| may swing freely on the shaft 34 through a certain angle. Thediscs 2l are according to Fig. 3 journalled on up and down swinging arms46 which are pivoted to forks 41l on shafts 34 and actuated by springs45, one

end of which is secured to said arm, the other end being secured to abracket 35. Each disc 20 is journalled on an arm 33 rigidly secured to arock shaft 34. Each shaft 34 is enclosed by a spring 32 which urges thearms 33 and 46 in-v wards.

In operation, on pressing the plunger |1 and sleeve 6 upwards by meansof the bottle 29 the arms 36 are swung inwards by the springs 39 andthen the lugs 43, which engage each a side .wall of a recess 42, arepermitted to follow the swinging movement of the sleeves 4| and thesprings 32 swing the arms 33 and 46 to yieldingly press the rollers 20and 2|, respectively, against 2,1aos,932

a cap placed on the neck of 'the bottle. In this case the spinning discs2| are brought intov engagement withit'he cap inthe proxlmityof themouth of the bottle .and the spinning is-effected on downward. movementof the discs 2|, i.. e., on tensioning the spring .45. On .descendingthe bottle after the'spinning operation has'beenlnished the spring I2urges the sleeve-6l andthe rollers'38 downwards andthe conical surfaceoi thetrackway 4D forces the arms 36 outwardly, one wall of the recess42 hits the lug 43 and the rock shafts 34-are swung back to theirinitial angular position, i. e., the `spinning discs are moved out ofengagement with the cap on the bottle neck.

According to Fig. 4,'the discs 2| are-supported by `arms 55`keyed tovrock shafts 34.V The forked'- ends ofthearms'55fhave'vertical spindles-54 on which the --discs 2 I `are loosely mounted. Springs 48 areinterposed between the discs 2| and the lower legs of the forks forresiliently urging the discs upwardly. "Thus the vspinning discs may bythe engagement-with threads beforced downwards on compressing thesprings 48.

It is provided that the apparatus indicated in Fig."5 has'spring-actuated Aarms 22 andl for supporting the discs 2| and 569,respectively. Thus said arms are urged inwardly by 'the springs 49, oneend of which is connected to the arms, their other ends being connectedto the sleeve 6. The spinningfdiscsZl are-secured to shafts 5U-which arerotatably journalledand axially movable in the forked ends of' the armsl22. Their operative movement axiallyofk the bottle l neck is eiected bythe thread of the bottle neck.

The spinning discs 69 which have to force part ofthe cap skirt into anangular groove 3| oi' the bottle neck are loosely mounted on xed shafts5| in the forked ends of the'armsl and actuated at their upper side asWell as 'at' their lower side by compressed 'springs 52, permittingmovements of the discs '69 axially of the 'bottle-neck to conform withthe groove 3|, whatever irregular shape or position said vgroove mighthave.

According to Fig. 8, the spinning tools .are developed 'to conform withbottle necksor the like being particularly irregularly shaped. .Theupper spinning tool is in this .case shaped as a ring 68 loose-lymountedV on a-spindle 53 on the arm 22.

With a view of accurately adjusting the spinning discs relative tothreads on the bottle necks said discs are according toFig. .9 .arrangedobliquely. They are each keyed Yto a spindle 6l axially movable mainlyin the same manner yas the spindle 50' of Fig. 5 but obliquely of thebottle' neck in conformity with the pitch ofthe thread.

If desired, the cap applying tools may according toy Fig. l0 instead ofbeing rotatable discs have the shape of sliding pressing members, suchas ingers 1D and 1| replacing the discs 2| and 69, respectively, shownin Fig. 5. The rear ends of said lingers straddle the arms supportingthem and thereby relative rotary movement is prevented. -The discs 2Umay possiblyfbe'replaced by pressing members, e. g., forming jaws.According to Fig. l1, two jaws 12 of rubberare supported by rotatablearms 13 arranged tobe swung in the same manner as the Varms' '22 andY:6.1, shown in Fig. 5. Another arm 14 carries =a .spinning disc 1-5andV isarranged Vto rotate around the bottle neck to .e'iect'thespinning operation in the same manner as described with reference toFie. 5.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for applying a closure cap having a depending `skirt to themouth of areceptacle, comprising! capping tools, said tools being singlymounted for movements at substantially different levels transversely tothe receptacle to yieldingly press different longitudinal sections ofthe skirt against said receptacle, one of said tools -being operative tomove progressively longitudinally o'f the receptacle relative vtoanother of said tools throughy a range of action beyond'thatof saidother tool, the transverse and longitudinal movements of said one toolbeing independent of `any other` of 4said capping tools, andaccommodating to the contour of said receptacle -to force thematerial ofthe skirt into: intimate contact with said receptacle.

2. Apparatus for applying a closure .cap having a depending skirt -to'the mouth of a receptacle, comprising `capping tools, a yieldingmemberior actuating .one of .said tools,.said tools being singly mountedfor movements at substantially different levels transversely to `thereceptacle to yieldingly press .different longitudinal sections of theskirt against said receptacle, one of said tools being operative to moveprogressively against the action of said yielding member longitudinally`'of the receptacle relative to another of said ltools through a rangeof action beyond that of said other tool, the. transverse andlongitudinal movements of saidv one vtool being independent ofuany otherof said capping tools, and accommodating to the contour yof saidreceptacle to forcethe lmaterial of the skirt into intimate contact withsaid receptacle.

3. Apparatus for applying closure caps having depending skirts to themouths of receptacles, comprising capping tools, said tools being singlymounted for movements atfsubstantially vdiffer-- ent levels transversely`to the receptacle to yieldingly press diierent longitudinal`sections-of the skirt .against said receptacle, one of said tools beingdeveloped asa spinning tool vand operative to move progressivelylongitudinally Yof the receptacle relative to another of said toolsthrough vra range of action beyond that of said other tool, the 1transverse and longitudinal movements of said tool' being independent ofany other of said capping itools, and accommodating to the contour. ofsaid receptacle to force the materialr of the skirt into .intimatecontact with said receptacle.

4. Apparatus for applying closure capshaving depending skirts to themouths of receptacles, comprising spinning-tools, said tools beingsingly mounted for movements at substantially diierent levels.transversely to the receptacle to yieldingly press .difiere-ntlongitudinal sections of the skirt against said receptacle, one of saidtools being operative to move progressively longitudinally of thereceptacle relative to another of said tools through a range of actionbeyond that 'ofi said .other tool, the transverse and longitudinalmovements of said one tool being independent 'of any other of saidspinning tools, and accommodating to the contour of said receptacle to`force the .material ofthe skirt into intimate contact with saidreceptacle. Y

5. Apparatus for applying closure caps having depending skirts to themouths of receptacles, comprising capping tools, said tools being singlymounted for movements at substantially diierent levels transversely tothe 'receptacle' to yieldingly press diiierent longitudinal sections ofthe skirt against said receptacle, one of said tools sol sol

being operative to move progressively longitudinally of the receptaclerelative to another of said tools through a range of action beyond thatof said other tool, the transverse andl longitudinal movements of saidone tool being independent of any other of said capping tools, andaccommodating to the contour of said receptacle to force the material ofthe skirt into intimate contact `with said receptacle, said tools beingmounted to actuate opposite sides of the skirt.v Y

6. Apparatus for applying closure-caps having depending skirts to themouths of receptacles, comprising capping tools, a shaft, said toolsbe.- ing singly mounted for movements ,at subs-tantially differentlevels transversely to thereceptacle to yieldingly press diiferentlongitudinal sections of the skirt against said receptacle, one of saidtools being developed as a spinning tool and rigidhr secured to saidshaft, said shaft being mounted for progressive axial movementlongitudinally rof and lateral movements transversely to the lreceptacleto move the tool securedrthereto transversely and longitudinallyindependently of any other of said capping tools to force the materialofthe skirt into intimate contact with said receptacle.

7. In an apparatus for applying a clos-ure cap having a depending skirtto the mouth of a receptacle, a pair of capping tools,- a shaft, saidtools being mounted for movements at substantially diiferent levelstransversely to the recepwith said receptacle.

tacle independently of one another to yieldingly press differentlongitudinal sections of the skirt against said receptacle, one of saidtools being l developed as a ring loosely mounted to adjust itselfobliquely on said shaft and free to move longitudinally of thereceptacle to progressively force the material of the skirt intointimate contact with said receptacle.

8. Apparatus for applying a closure cap having a depending skirt to themouth ofa receptacle, comprising capping tools, movable yieldingcarriers for said tools, said carriers supporting said tools singly tomove them at substantially different levels transversely to thereceptacle to yieldingly press diiferent longitudinal sections of theskirt against said receptacle, one of said tools being operative to moveprogressively longitudinally of the receptacle relative to another ofsaid tools through a range of action beyond that of said other tool, thevtransverse and longitudinal movements of said one tool beingindependent of any other of said capping tools, and accommodating to thecontour of said receptacle to force the material of the skirt intointimate contact 9. In an apparatus for applying a closure cap having adepending skirt to the mouth of a receptacle, capping tools, a movablecarrier, said tools being singly mounted for movements at substantiallydifferent levels transversely to the receptacle to yeldingly pressdifferent longitudinal sections of the skirt against said receptacle,one of said tools being supported by said carrier to be progressivelymoved longitudinally of the receptacle relative to another of said toolsthrough a range of action beyond that of said other tool, the transverseand longitudinal movements of said one tool being independent of anyother of said capping tools to force the material of the skirt intointimate contact with the receptacle.

10. In an` apparatus for applying a closure cap having a depending skirtto the mouth of a receptacle, capping tools, said tools being singlymounted for movements in substantially different levels transversely tothe receptacle to yieldingly press different longitudinal sections ofthe skirt against said receptacle, one of said tools being operative tomove progressively longitudinally of the receptacle in a direction ufromthe range of action of another of said tools towards the mouth of thereceptacle, the transverse and longitudinal movements of said tool beingindependent of any other of said capping tools, and accommodating tothe-contour of said receptacle to force the material of the skirt intointimate contact with said receptacle.

11. In an apparatus for applying a closure cap having a dependingskirtto the mouth of a receptacle, spinning tools, said tools beingsingly mounted for movements in substantially different levelstransversely to the receptacle to yieldingly press differentlongitudinal sections of the` skirt against said receptacle, one of saidtools being operative to move progressively longitudinally of thereceptacle in a direction fromv the range of actiongofvanother of saidtools towards the mouth of thefreceptacle, the transverse andlongitudinalmovements of said one tool being independentv of any otherof said spinning tools, and accommodating to the contour of saidreceptacle to force the material of the skirt into intimate contact withsaid receptacle.

12. In an. apparatusfory applying a closure cap having a depending skirtto the mouth of a receptacle, capping tools, said tools being singlymounted for movements in substantially different levels transversely tothe receptacle to yieldingly press diiferent longitudinal sections ofthe skirt against said receptacle, oneof said tools being developed as aspinning tool and operative to move progressively along the receptacleat a right angle to threads formed on said receptacle,

the transverse and progressive movement of said one ytool beingindependent of any other of said capping tools to force the material ofthe skirt into intimate contact with said threads.

13. The method of applying a closure cap to a receptacley having anexternally threaded top, which comprises placing a skirted cap on thereceptacle, progressively spinninga screw thread on the cap skirtbeginning the thread at ,they

lower and completing it at the upper threaded portion of the receptacleand simultaneously spinning a lower portion of the cap skirt intointimate contact with the receptacle below a rim of said receptacle witha rconstant and smooth pressure until the spinning of the screw threadis finished.

'14. In an apparatus for applying a closure cap having a depending skirtto the mouth of a receptacle, a pair of capping tools, said tools beingmounted for movements at substantially different levels transversely tothe receptacle to yieldingly press different longitudinal sections ofthe skirt against said receptacle, one of said tools being operative tomove subsequently to the otherv material of the skirt into intimatecontact with' the receptacle.

ERNST voN SEGEBADEN. BROR JOHNSON.

